July 10, 2018 - The mine of the future is carbon-dioxide-free, digitalized and autonomous. To set a new world standard for sustainable mining at great depth, LKAB, Epiroc, ABB, Combitech and AB Volvo have joined forces in a partnership and are starting a unique testbed in the orefields of northern Sweden.

The testbed, SUM, Sustainable Underground Mining, will be created in LKAB’s underground mines in northern Sweden and will also take the form of a virtual mine. There, new technology will be developed and tested in a real mining environment to help ensure sustainable and safe mining in the future. This requires new control systems, new and improved mining equipment, as well as complex and efficient management systems that meet future demands. Reaching that goal will demand a new type of collaboration, a digital ecosystem in which the partners’ digital systems and operations are linked.

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“We’re proud to be part of a collaborative effort to develop the world’s most modern mining operation,” said Per Lindberg, President and CEO of Epiroc. “This aligns well with our focus on autonomous and battery-operated products and solutions that improve productivity and safety in the mines.”

To be able to realize the technology shift and reduce climate impact, LKAB, Epiroc, ABB, Combitech and AB Volvo have joined forces to find solutions and set a new world standard for sustainable mining at great depth that would entail a major leap in technological development. 

Within the framework of the testbed the best means of building an efficient autonomous production system that is carbon-dioxide-free and has the highest conceivable level of safety will be studied. Implementation of the project will help move the industry toward a mine where people and machines work side by side in a sustainable, safe, carbon-dioxide-free, digitalized and autonomous environment.

For more information on Epiroc, visit www.epiroc.us. 

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